i still want to hear more why Emery in his current state is a positive for this club.

I also would like to know why Q is given so little slack even accepting that he was bad last year. Is it all the line changes? I could see that pissing people off over the years.

Bowman. Look, his drafting is really good. I haven't been this excited about prospects (Saad and TT) since we got Bolland, Seabrook and Keith. His plan, in theory, will work. But at the same time, there will be a time even after it works that a player he drafted is good but just doesn't fit or we are overloaded at a position. Can he pull off a major trade that helps us? He'll have to. I'm not tolerant of punting years like he is now though. It's ridiculous and signing a couple guys to 1 year deals wouldn't have hurt anyione. How can you fight that? How hard is it to say, you know what, maybe players X and Y wouldn't put us over the top but they'd most likely help to some degree and would cost us nothing but money? I admit Bowman has a good plan regarding drafting and it will probably work out well. But how long will it take, what will happen in between, and can he make good trades/signings because you have to admit that is critical and you can't just use a pipeline of young players to make a consistent Cup contender. Now was the time to show he could do those things, with no risk involved. I'd have more confidence if he did that, but the way he just folds up his tent when he doesn't get exactly what he wants is disturbing. Moreover, when he doesn't get the job done, he just says the work was already done anyway. Then why would he try to get Brodeur, Parise, whoever. Obviously he had to see something wrong with the team. Why give up like that and say everything is great? It's weird.

Emery played too much for the role he had. He isn't the type of goalie who should be going out and playing in 10 straight games (no back up should, unless of injury). He was thrown into a role that doesn't suit him, because Crawford was so awful.

Bringing back Emery was OK with me, as long as Crawford can return to 10-11 form. If he can't Chicago needs to find a goalie before the Trade Deadline. It's not a stupid move yet, because the trade deadline hasn't passed, and Crawford could still bounce back.

I also would like to know why Q is given so little slack even accepting that he was bad last year. Is it all the line changes? I could see that pissing people off over the years.

Q has made an awful lot of bad decisions in the last few years.
1- The team lacks any type of coherent defensive system
2- The team lacks any type of coherent offensive system
3- The team lacks any type of organized breakouts and a transition game
4- Keeping Kitchen and letting him use the triangle +1 that doesn't work
5- Having Leddy on the pk over Montador
6- Constantly trying to make Bruno work in the top 6 when everyone could see he was done
7- Not giving Stalberg a shot on the pp over guys like Kruger and Bruno
8- The team has been playing down to opponents and taking games off
9- The team has had trouble playing a complete 60 min effort

There are plenty of other reasons as well, but those are the ones that immediately popped into my head.

Quote:

Originally Posted by coldsteelonice84

Why give up like that and say everything is great? It's weird.

Why did Holmgren say that he was happy with his d-core after offer sheeting Weber and having Nashville match? Why does every other GM in the league say that they fully believe in every player on the roster even when anyone with a brain knows it isn't true?

Bowman took a shot at the elite talent that was available and it didn't work out, its not the end of the world. The Hawks made the playoffs last year despite a slew of coaching issues, under performing stars, and bad goal tending. Q definitely knows his job is on the line now so he should hopefully get his act together. Kane should rebound next year and so should Crawford. Will CC every be a Vezina candidate? No, but even if he puts up average numbers the Hawks should walk away with the division. Plus you have another year of development for Leddy, Shaw, and Kruger. Other prospects who will push for icetime in Saad, Pirri, Olsen, Morin, and Jayes. All it will take for the Hawks to be a top cup contender is for 1 of the prospects to have a good season, or for Crawford to rebound and play like he did as a rookie, or for Q to actually fix the special teams and defense. With the Hawks core small changes will can have huge impacts.

I don't like veteran backups as a rule, but I thought Emery was fine. His GAA lined up with the team average and they had 15-9-1 record out of him. If the backup is getting 60% of the pts and has a Gaa that doesn't kill the team average. I'm not going to complain.

I would definitely prefer better and I would prefer a younger one who might compete for the starting job, but all things considered, the backup goalie spot is one of my smallest concerns. He didn't have enough stinkers for me to be upset with him. I don't mind that they kept him around. If the goalie position is a problem later in the year, I think they'll make a move for one of the vets on the tale end of their deals.

I'm not a Emery fan, but when it comes to your backup, the win-loss-OT line is the most important.

I don't dislike or particularly like Emery but I agree with this.

Forgive me if my memory is a little off, but he was 15-9-4 on the season right? So that's 34 points on a 104 point (I think?) season, so that means Emery put up roughly half as many points as Crow, which is definitely solid for a backup in my book.

These yes, I like when Original Six teams have throwbacks as their alternates.

actually would love to see these,

These NO!, the Hawks don't need the stupid alternative just because gimmick.

Pay tribute to the teams great history or leave well enough alone, we have the best jerseys in sports leave it at that.

A jersey without the normal Indian Head they've used for over 50 years is way more of a gimmick to me. Can't stand the Winter Classic jersey. Not because it looks bad, I think it looks nice sans the numbers you can't read. I just don't think they should be bringing back an old logo for more than special occasions like the WC.

My personal preference would be that the whites VS darks rule was abolished and they wore black on the road from time to time, and red against a team in black or blue.